Chili Dog

A Chili Hot dog is a hot dog smothered with homemade beef chili and then piled high with cheddar cheese!

This is an American classic!

I was talking to a family from Florida a few weeks ago. When I told them was from Cincinnati, the first thing they commented on was Cincinnati Chili. I’m not sure if you are aware of how we eat our chili in Cincinnati…but it is a little different.

When you order Cincinnati chili, you can order spaghetti and chili (2-way), add cheese for a 3- way, add beans or onions for a 4-way and if you order a 5-way then you have spaghetti, chili, onions, beans, and cheese! Yellow mustard can also be added.

But my favorite thing to do with Cincinnati style chili is to make chili dogs or Coneys!

Cincinnati style chili has a very distinct flavor, you either like it or you don’t. What sets Cincinnati chili apart is the hint of nutmeg and a hit of chocolate (yes, you read that right).

What Is A Chili Dog?

A chili dog is a hot dog (steamed or grilled, really doesn’t matter) that is topped with homemade chili and then piled high with shredded cheddar cheese!

How To Make Chili Dogs

To make chili, you will heat ground beef in a skillet over medium heat until no longer pink, stir in garlic and diced onions and cook until soft. Add tomato sauce, Worcestershire sauce, apple cider vinegar and spices like cumin, chili powder, cocoa powder, cinnamon, cloves, and a little red pepper, Water and beans are stirred in next.

The mixture is simmered on low until thickened. This will take at least 30 minutes.

Traditionally the hot dogs are steamed, but honestly, you can grill hot dogs, boil them or even microwave hot dogs. Chili cheese dogs are all about the chili, not the hot dog!

Can You Freeze A Chili Hot Dog?

No, but the chili freezes really well! Store the cooled chili in a ziptop bac. Be sure to remove the air from the bag and store the bag flat in a freezer.

The chili can be stored in the freezer for 3-4 months. To reheat, allow the bag to thaw in the fridge then pour the bag into a large saucepan and heat to the desired temperature.

Chili Dog Substitutions

If the nutmeg is not for you, omit it. The cocoa powder has a really mild flavor, you could leave it out or even add in chopped chocolate.

Adjust the amount of chili powder and red pepper if you don’t like the spice.

I used red chili beans in this recipe, but you could use pinto beans in this recipe.

I’m not always keen on hot dogs, so sometimes I will place my chili in a hot dog bun which is what we call a “phony coney”

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Chili Dog

Yield: 8

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour

Total Time: 1 hour20 minutes

Hot dogs smothered with a homemade beef chili sauce and then piled high with cheddar cheese!

Ingredients

1lb ground beef

2 cloves garlic, chopped

1/2 cup chopped onion

15oz tomato sauce

1T apple cider vinegar

1 T Worcestershire sauce

1/4 t cocoa powder

1 t salt

2 T chili powder

1/2 t cumin

1/2 t cinnamon

1/4 tsp red pepper

1/8 tsp cloves

1 cup water

1 15 oz can chili beans, drained

8 hot dogs

8 buns

2 cups shredded cheddar jack cheese

Instructions

Brown beef in a large, deep skillet until no longer pink. Add in garlic and onion, sautéing until soft.

Add in tomato sauce, spices, water and beans.

Bring to a boil. Cook on medium low for up to an hour or until chili begins to thicken.

Prepare hot dogs according to package directions. Ladle chili over hot dogs. Pile high with cheese.

First – you are not a freak of nature! I have celebrated my 39th birthday for 11 years in a row and plan on the 12th anniversary of my 39th birthday in October. 🙂 I know this is going to sound a bit pedestrian, but chili dogs are and always will be my favorite meal! I like to add onions on top and maybe a few jalapeno slices because EVERYTHING is better with onions! 🙂 I’m going back now to read the other hot dog recipe because chili verde is my favorite to eat in a bowl!

LOL…you are too funny! I love hot dogs,and I love chili dogs, but I have interest in eating 68 of them at one time, or even in a month:) I just celebrated my 17th annual 29th birthday 🙂 Pretty soon I will need a calculator to figure out the math on that one!

So funny bcz I find myself watching the crazy hot dog eating challenge every year! It’s amazing what they do to “train” for this! You made me laugh when you said about your bday…6 years in a row! You’re too funny! Maybe I need to start saying that next yr…I’ll be 40! Loving these dogs!

Those are the prettiest chili dogs I’ve ever seen, and now I REALLY want one! 68 hot dogs and buns in one sitting is insane. Where do they go?? I agree that there are a lot of unanswered questions in the world of food eating contests. There is probably a documentary about it, but I don’t think I could watch. Happy early birthday, Tanya!

[…] made fruit cups in wonton wrappers, kid-pleasing granola bars, waffle sandwiches and even chili dogs. For Halloween night, I try to come up with a festive dinner such as spaghetti for brains and […]

[…] made fruit cups in wonton wrappers, kid-pleasing granola bars, waffle sandwiches and even chili dogs. For Halloween night, I try to come up with a festive dinner such as spaghetti for brains and […]